Electric connector device

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to an electric connector device enabling several connector devices to be connected mechanically as well as electrically; it comprises a metal nucleus perforated axially, at least one means of gripping the electric wire to be connected and a box made of insulating material enclosing the metal core, while leaving access to the extremities of the perforation free; the box and the core comprise in addition a transversal opening passing through them from end to end located perpendicularly to the axis of the perforation of the core and passing through this perforation.

United States Patent 051 3,701,087

Bernard Oct. 24, 1972 [541 ELECTRIC CONNECTOR DEVICE FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS [72] Inventor: Henri Gabriel Bernard, 9, Avenue 590,810 7/1947 Great Britain ..339/272 A de Belfort, Saint Claude, France 596,251 7/ 1959 Italy ..339/ 198 G 137,809 6/1950 Australia ..339/272 A [22] 1971 506,360 8/1930 Germany ..339/272 A [21] Appl. No.: 114,421

Primary Examiner--Marvin A. Champion Assistant Examiner-Robert A. I-Iafer [3O] Forelg Apphcat'on pmymty Data Attorney-Spensley, Horn & Lubitz Oct. 29, 1970 France ..7039105 [57] v ABSTRACT C 339/22 R, 339/272 A The invention relates to anelectric connector device [51] Int. Cl. ..II0lr 9/00 enabling several connector devices to be connected [58] Field of Search ..339/198, 19, 22, 242, 222, mechanically as well as electrically; it comprises a 339/244, 246, 248, 263, 272, 31 metal nucleus perforated axially, at least one means of gripping the electric wire to be connected and a box [56] References Cited made of insulating material enclosing the metal core,

while leaving access to the extremities of the perfora- UNITED STATES PATENTS tion free; the box and the core comprise in addition a transversal opening passing through them from end to i end located perpendicularly to the axis of the perforath If 2,892,176 6/1959 Gordon ..339/198 0 we and passmg mugh Sievert ..339/22 3 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures ELECTRIC CONNECTOR DEVICE The invention relates to an electric connector device enabling several such connector devices to be joined mechanically as well as electrically to one another.

Connector devices consisting of hollow metal cores comprising at least one screw which, on being tightened, occupies a position across the axis of the hollow part of the metal core in order to grip a cable are already known.

In addition, the metal part is lodged or embedded inside a box made of plastic or similar material with insulating properties.

Means to enable several such independent devices to be joined to form a connector strip a bar comprising as many orifices as are required for a particular purpose are also known.

For example, in such a known device, the means of joining several such devices to one another can be a dovetail type of assembly of which the male and female parts are located on the exterior of the lateral walls opposite one another of the box made of plastic material.

However, when it is desired to join such connector devices electrically to one another, it is necessary to make use of an external electric cable known as a bridge of which the two extremities are plugged inside the two devices to be joined.

It is therefore the particular object of the present invention to remove these disadvantages and to that end it relates to an electric connector device which comprises a metal core perforated axially, at least one means of gripping the electric wire to be connected, and a box made of insulating material enclosing a metal core, leaving access to the two extremities free; more specifically, the box and its core include a transversal opening which passes entirely through both these parts and which is located perpendicularly to the axis of the perforation of the metal core and passes entirely through this perforation.

The invention is illustrated but not limited by the examples in the attached drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the device,

FIG. 2 is the cross-section AA to which reference is made in FIG. 1.

It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide a connector device which enables several devices to be joined mechanically as well as electrically in order to produce assemblies such as those involving bars comprising several terminals connected electrically to one another.

In the example of the application represented in the attached drawings the connector device is shown as comprising a metal core 1 perforated axially from end to end, while the cables inside the perforation are gripped by two screws 3 and 4 of which the lower extremity penetrates to a larger or greater extent into the interior of this perforation.

It will be understood however that this connector device may comprise only one gripping screw, if necessary, or in general, only one device for gripping or securing the electric wire.

A core 1 is located inside the box 5 made of plastic material which is open at its two extremities in order to allow the cables to be connected to be introduced into the perforation 2.

In the example shown, the box is made in the general shape of a parallelepiped and includes the male parts 6 and the female parts 7 of a dovetail type of assembly on the exterior of the lateral walls opposite one another.

Two sleeves 8 are also provided as a part of the moulded box 5 and these enclose the screws 3 and 4 in order to insulate them.

According to this invention, the connector device comprises an opening which passes through the connector device from end to end, that is, it passes through the box at 9 and the core at 10.

This opening is located perpendicularly to the axis of the perforation 2 and passes through this perforation in a manner such as primarily to enable the desired number of connector devices to be joined by means of a dovetail type assembly 6 and 7 and also to connect electrically the various devices that have thus been joined mechanically, by means of an electric wire which passes through the various transversal openings 9, 10 located one next to the other.

When the cables to be connected are gripped by means of screws the various cores 1 are then automatically connected electrically.

In addition, according to the invention, the transversal opening is made in way such that its extremities open out respectively into the male parts 6 and the female parts 7 of the dovetail assembly. In this way when several connector devices are joined to one another to form a connector bar and are connected electrically by means of a cable passing through the perforations 9 and 10, the ends of the cables can be accommodated inside the perforation 10 in the male part or inside the female part 7, so that the ends of this transversally connecting cable are protected electrically from outside contact.

It will be evident that the invention is not limited to the embodiments described and illustrated herein above and that other variants are possible within the scope of the invention.

It will be understood in particular that the invention is not limited to connector devices provided with complementary means of assembly for producing connector bars of desired length. In fact, these connector devices can be made directly in the form of a connector bar by making an assembly of boxes each with its metal core, all in one piece.

I claim:

1. A device for an electrical connector comprising a metallic core and a box of insulating material, said metallic core having an axial perforation and at least one means to tighten against an electrical wire therein and to couple said wire with the interior of said perfo ration, said box insulating entirely the outer surfaces of said metallic core, leaving the whole device freely accessible at the extremities of said perforation, the lateral sides of said box having complementary male and female connections, said box and said metallic core having an opening going therethrough perpendicular to the axis of said perforation and perpendicular to said complementary connections.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said complementary male and female connections are dovetail connections disposed generally parallel to said axial perforation.

3. The device of claim 1 further having a second means to tighten against a wire in said opening perpendicular to the axis of said perforation. 

1. A device for an electrical connector comprising a metallic core and a box of insulating material, said metallic core having an axial perforation and at least one means to tighten against an electrical wire therein and to couple said wire with the interior of said perforation, said box insulating entirely the outer surfaces of said metallic core, leaving the whole device freely accessible at the extremities of said perforation, the lateral sides of said box having complementary male and female connections, said box and said metallic core having an opening going therethrough perpendicular to the axis of said perforation and perpendicular to said complementary connections.
 2. The device of claim 1 wherein said complementary male and female connections are dovetail connections disposed generally parallel to said axial perforation.
 3. The device of claim 1 further having a second means to tighten against a wire in said opening perpendicular to the axis of said perforation. 